Tonight was the 9th weekly pole dancing class I have attended over the past 2.5 months. After every session, we girls all walk away with exotic bruises, some with cramped or pulled muscles, or strained joints. We don't look or feel particularly pretty or sexy after taking that kind of bashing.

Yet our classes are always filled with raucous laughter, and we keep coming back for more.

On Tuesdays nights, I find myself in the most pleasant company of other girls who are working hard to push back at their physical boundaries to achieve what could possibly be one of the most demanding and visually captivating of dance forms. I first came to know of pole dancing classes in KL sometime last year when one of the local dailies ran an article on them. Now I've finally made a firm enough decision to get started on learning it, and what an experience it has been!

There are spins, transitional sequences on the floor, kicks, and now at the Intermediate level we're learning to take on 'inverts', which basically involve hoisting yourself up on the pole and performing moves while hanging upside down--most often with just your legs grasping the pole. My dance background, capoeira and yoga certainly gave me a fantastic advantage in terms of familiarity with movements and some strength. But the other girls who have been learning steadily for the past 6 months to a year are far better at climbing and sitting on the pole (my inner thighs still get sore!). :p

Pole dancing is (to me, at least) a celebration of what the female physique is capable of, and also our form. When executed with control and finesse, pole dancing is as beautiful to watch as ballet. I personally don't like watching the youtube videos that 'oversex' pole dancing--I guess that's just what most people expect of it, since it's so closely related with prostitution. But the ones that showcase technique and the dancers' gorgeous lines are a real treat.

My particular favourite is this girl:

Well, this is one new thing I am challenging my physical self with. Already my arms, shoulders and chest are showing signs of bulking up a little to keep up with classes. We are constantly reminded by our teacher, Nana, to keep stretching out our arms after we're done practising a move, throughout our sessions. This is so we develop lean muscle, and not chunky ones.

Looking forward to my first performance! Not just yet, but I'm sure there'll be ample opportunities coming this way. 😉

Oh, and if you're interested to find out more about the classes, visit Viva Vertical's website for more information.

10 Comments

We would like to extend you our heartiest thanks for encouraging that this sexy activity be performed in public.

We sincerely hope that by you doing so, it will increase the chance that there will be an elevation of the arousal level of an increased number of our (legal/illegal) immigrants (Indons, Banglas, Nepalese, etc.) and local men in our country.

Some of whom happens to live, work or lepak near the vicinities where our sisters, daughters, nieces, wives, girlfriends and other female relatives & acquaintances also happens to live, work, lepak play or go to school.

I know that what you are presenting is not even soft porn, but sexy is sex and sex is sexy!

And like they say, “sikit-sikit, lama-lama jadi bukit.”

Or in some of our cases, GUNUNG BERAPI! If you catch my meaning….

They also say that, “if you are not part of the solution, then you are part of the problem.”

Thank you for being part of the solution to the problem of not having enough sexy women in the media and in the public to titillate and arouse our immigrant and local men in our streets and our daughter’s neigborhoods.

Again, thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Bambang,
Acquisitions Committee,
NAILMEN (M),
National Association of Immigrant and Local Men of Malaysia

as a man, i feel insulted by your post simply because you assume every other male is like you… not able to control themselves like some infantile spoilt child.

the problem is not women engaging in activities such as pole dancing for fitness and recreational purposes but men who can’t seem to control themselves (so who are really still little boys) and therefore pass on the fault to the women… like a spoilt child. “mommy, it’s not my fault… she made me do it!” It is men like you who encourage the rape of your sisters, daughters, mothers, aunties…etc.. you make it easy for the men who do it to blame them. you’re not protecting your sisters. you’re not empowering your daughters. you’re making them easy targets! because they are always at fault. you ARE the problem.

the pole dancer IS part of the solution by saying it is ok for a women to be herself and express herself without having to fear harassment especially when it is done in a private premise. if you’re offended, don’t look. if you don’t want to watch sexy women, turn away. the choice is yours. you can choose like an adult to partake or to reject. unless you’re not an adult male… which is entirely different then. so in the same light, please refrain from watching swimming events, squash, tennis, track and field, gymnastics… wouldn’t want you to get turned on at the sight of scantily clad women since you equate sexy with sex.

PS. i hope she posts more ‘sexy’ videos to celebrate the wonder of being a woman! right-thinking adult men like seeing women enjoy being women and feeling empowered.

PSS. real men and adults don’t hide behind pseudonyms. we left that behind in school…

If you have a problem keeping your “pole” from dancing – if you catch my drift – this must be your lucky day as I have not one but two solutions for you.

For one, you could put on a chastity belt and lose the key. However, I’d recommend the second solution. Get your fellow NAILMEN and yourself a mass-castration so as to keep your “poles” under control at the mere sight of a person with a pole. It did work after all for the eunuchs.

Not only is your comment completely ignorant but it is offensive, sexist and racist.

Women should be proud of who they are and what their bodies can do. Pole dancing, if you read the post, is “as beautiful to watch as ballet.” It takes alot of physical strength, grace and co-oridination.

While on the surface level it may be easy assume that pole dancing = stripping = moral degradation, but maybe if you ‘watched’ the video or ‘read’ the post, you would understand that pole dancing classes are not preparing young woman for a life on a seedy stage and handfuls of dollar bills, but it is a dance class.

Dancing as you may or may not know, is the celebration of the human body and its capabilities.

The fact that you would even mildly insinuate that posting this video will lead to the ‘immigrant and local’ men so hot and bothered that they are going to go out into our communities and prey on our young innocent daughters is child’s logic.

The real danger to our society is not the ‘immigrant or local men’ it is not the ‘sexy women in the media’, it’s close minded ignorance.

Bigotry is the problem, and I’m afraid to say that you’re not part of the solution.

Speaking on behalf of the pole dancing community, as a Malaysian, as a daughter, and especially as a Woman.

I personally and if not obviously alot of people here (and elsewhere- It seems you’ve been going around a couple of blogs making the same comment and quoting the same thing. Gets abit dry ya know.) have taken into offense of what the comment you have just posted.

I find your comment being absurdly stereotypical, judgmental, racist, sexist, a discrimination of dance talent and direct harassment to women and men alike.

You sir, are a walking contradiction of your own doing with no thought of delivering the empowerment and liberation that women need. If you find that even gymnasts and swimmers in half covered gear arousing, Goodness, we women must be aroused by the sight of topless men ourselves. You are not part of the solution to a problem you are developing with your own hands. It is the choice of men and women, to control their actions. A smart woman must be aware of how she can carry herself confidently and she is definitely exposed and educated to look after herself at the same time.

I do think you have to update yourself on the definition of “Sexy” There is MORE to a woman than just having her body to show. Intelligence, talent and independence is sexy too.
Tsk tsk and for such a person like yourself to only stress on the dressing and gestures issues, this becomes very clear that you only position yourself that way.

Pole dancers above all, deserve the respect for the pain they endure to train, the strength it takes to stay with gravity defying movements and grace they show. I’m deeply affected that you think pole is all about booty-shaking. Certainly if pole, swimming, gymnastics is all that bad, maybe they should just close an entire division or two in the Olympics. Wouldn’t make the world all happy now would it

I feel sorry for your daughter (if you are lucky enough to have one) as she will not be able to explore her full potential under the reins of such bigotry and chauvinistic ideas. I really hope she breaks free to prove you wrong.

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